The rash of peace deals and secret meetings in recent days to patch up the cracks and bridge the widening gap between the Senate and the leadership of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is beginning to bear fruits chief of which is the Thursday reshuffle of the leadership of the Standing Committees in the Senate.
One of the most notable critics of the Senate President, Senator Kabiru Marafa, was appointed Chairman of the Petroleum (Downstream) Committee, a position considered an upgrade from his previous portfolio of chairman of the Committee on National Population.
Another critic of Dr. Saraki, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was named chairperson of the Committee on Environment. Mrs. Tinubu, wife of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was a known critic of the Senate President in solidarity with her husband who was perceived to have been slighted by the emergence of Saraki as Senate President against his wish. Mrs. Tinubu was formerly the chairperson of the Committee on Women Affairs.
Senator Suleiman Hukunyi, another critic of the senate president, is now in charge of the Committee on National Identity.
All the new appointees to what observers said were more important and juicy committees were members of the Unity Forum, a group of APC senators who have been opposed to the Saraki-leadership of the Senate. The group had earlier demanded a restructuring of the Senate committees as a precondition for peace to return to the factionalized senate.
